Member Comments for the Article:

Walking Safety Tips

Getting Off To a Good Start

13 Comments

On my daily walks -- there have been several times when stray dogs have come very close to attacking me. It is scary when a vicious dog can be loose. I carry a metal poker rod from a fireplace tool set. If a dog attacks me, I'll have a weapon against it. This is very important!---
- 4/14/2015 1:48:38 PM

I have been walking for a number of years and I live in a pretty safe town in Massachusetts .i walk up to 3-5 miles per week and I am always looking around as I walk., I have had some close calls a few times. I like the idea about carrying a whistle and mace, but when I I went to the police station to renew my mace certificate, they give me a hard way to go. So I walk with my phone. That was almost 20 years ago, maybe I will go back to the police station and try again.
- 7/27/2014 10:07:51 PM

When I walk outside I text my husband at the beginning, midpoint, and end of my journey. Sometimes I send pics which is fun, and I let him know what I am wearing. It's also good to find out where registered sex offenders are living in your area so that you can avoid those streets.
- 6/25/2013 12:36:41 PM

I once was walking during my lunch break on a nice sunny day. A car slowed pulled beside me with a very polite gentleman looking for directions to the court house. After I gave him the directions he appeared to be very confused and asked to borrower my cell phone. I lied and said I didn't have on me.Then the man asked me to get in the car so that I can show him the way to the court house because he didn't know the area. After repeatly saying no, he finally drove away. It was really scary!

So you never can be too careful because stuff like this happens in braod daylight! A cell phone and pepper spray is always good to have on hand.
- 6/11/2012 10:55:50 AM

I run & ride my bike in the woods. I need to be able to hear everything. More than once I've heard something, well before I've seen it. As a woman, alone in a secluded area, you can never be too careful.
- 5/16/2012 5:53:18 PM

Great article. The pedometer actually does keep me motivated. But I do wear my headphones but keep volume low so I can hear what's going on.

I also have pepper spray now because in my walking I've come across coyotes but they are usually alone. I've also seen deer, possum, skunks, raccoons, lots of bunnies. And I live in the suburbs!!
- 4/15/2012 9:41:54 AM

Thanks for the tips. Although most of these tips are for people walking in a city setting. I live in a very rural area. I rarely see people or cars on my walks so no need for mace/pepper spray, it would just piss off the bears & wolves. LOL
- 2/1/2010 2:18:20 PM

Thanks for the warning of taking a cell phone, etc. My dd runs in our "nice" neighborhood, but she has a WHISTLE, mace and a C.P. I often go with her and ride my bike. We checked on-line and found that "registered offenders" live within 2 miles of us, and we live in a "nice" area.
- 11/9/2008 2:27:37 PM

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